NURTURE YOUR CHILD INTO A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN

In an effort to prevent violence against children and adolescents in Kasese district, RIC-NET supported Kamasasa Primary School in Karambi Sub County to organize an Open Day that took place on 3rd may 2017 at the school. The Open Day aimed at showcasing pupil’s works, interactions between students and parents, and sessions to bring back the spirit of parent-child communication. The function was attended by over 130 parents(with the number of female parents being more than that of male parents), the LC3 chairperson, the CDO, the parish chief, the PTA and the school management committees, the area inspector of schools who was represented by the zonal leader, and councilors of Karambi Sub County.

The LC3 chairperson who was one of the guest speakers addressed the parents on the role of adults/parents in taking care of children referring to the Children’s Act of 1997. He advised parents on how to raise their children with a notion; "You reap what you sow". That is, if you bring up your child well and support him/her today they will become successful and a good example to others in future who will take care of you in your old age and the reverse is true.He also encouraged parents to always follow up their children's education and support them at all levels; financially, morally and materially.

The LC3 chairperson Karambi making his remarks

RIC-NET's  staff Charles Kaliba  who was also present at the Open Day engaged parents on child upbringing highlighting 3 core responsibilities of parents in child upbringing as protection ,provision and involvement in participation of a child's growth. He advised the parents on how they  ought  to protect their children from harm and other unpleasant acts ,provide for them the required necessities like education ,health care ,shelter ,food and emphasized the point of parents providing midday meals for children while at school and involvement of children in decision making as this makes them  feel valued and worthy and grow into good and successful people .

Students made presentations that included poems, songs and skits that talked about rights and responsibilities of children and the role of parents in the upbringing of children and the relationship between children and their parents.

Pupils presenting a traditional folk song

Parents later involved in a discussion and agreed that their role is to bring up their children well so that they can become important people in the society and we believe with such commitments violence against children and adolescents will reduce in Kasese and Uganda as a whole.

WE ARE STILL PRISONERS OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

During a human rights and conflict management training, Foot Peace Ambassadors (FPAs) revealed that,“We have been able to understand that rights are not in the hands of one person but universal” 

The training was organized by RIC-NET at Vanilla hotel, Bundibugyo town on the 4^th and 5^th of May, 2017. The training attracted 20 (8F,12M) participants, (ToTs) from the sub counties of Kirumya, Ntotoro, Ngamba, Kasitu and Bubukwanga and staff from the cultural institutions.

Thetraining aimed at creating a clear understanding of rights, actors in protection and promotion of rights , roles and duties of community, the entire aspect of the law, analysis of the violation in relation to the actors and people most affected. Emphasis was put on chapter 4 of the Uganda constitution 1995 which stipulates the rights of Ugandans and other international human rights instruments such as the UDHR, ICESCER and ICCPR. Special emphasis was on the rights of women with the inernationall instrument as CEDAW, children in the CRC and other minority groups.

The FBOs asserted that, "we are still prisoners of certain individuals who claim to be custodians of rights which is as a result of dishonesty from leaders."
They further observed that people are not empowered and therefore cannnot speak out on the injustices that occur in the community. There is lack of awareness of the law. Participants highlighted articles 23,224,28,37,38 and 41 of the Ugandan constitution which are commonly abused by those in authority since communities are not explicitly aware of them and how the same can protect their freedom and liberty.

The participants also observed the high levels of gender inequality as a catalyst for violation of human rights. They further that the custodians of the laws use the ignorance of the law aspect to violate the rights of individuals. They agreed to sensitize the community using all available means to ensure people understand the basics of the law in relation to rights and freedoms. 

CONFLICT AFFECTED GIRLS IN RWAMWANJA FINISH TRAINING IN VOCATIONAL SKILLS

With support from the Global Fund for Children, RIC-NET has been implementing a project titled “Advancing the dignity of vulnerable children and youth”. The project has been targeting vulnerable conflict affected girls in and out school by providing reproductive health knowledge ,psychosocial support ,sanitary and scholastic /training material ,equip girls out of school with vocational skills and provide them with startup kits to enable them start their own businesses ,support babies of the young mothers with funds for baby sitters as the mothers attend training, conduct home visits to interact with parents /guardians of the girls to sensitize them about the importance of girl child education among other interventions .     
10 conflict affected girls were trained  in vocational skills of hair dressing tailoring and  for a period of six months in Rwamwanja refugee settlement. The girls have been undergoing intense hands on training at Community Empowerment Agency –Kamwenge (CEA-KA) to enable them acquire skills that are marketable in the competitive job market but also to be able to manage their own small businesses they will start up after they will be provided with startup kits.

The girls graduated amidst happiness and celebrations form their parents /guardians, local leaders and instructors at CEA-KA offices on 20^th April 2017.The girls were handed over their certificates of completion by the LC3 chairperson  Nkoma sub county Mr Kabuye Abel in the presence of the sub county chief   Mr. Ndagiriye Karemera Alfred and LC1 Chair person of Katalyeba village Mr. Bigogo Aston.  The girls were excited as some of them said they never imagined if they would ever get any certificate in their life

Below are the girls who graduated and the courses they offered:

Vumiria Kakuze –Hairdressing

Mukeshimana Maombi-Tailoring

Ketya Bosco –Hairdressing

Uwayezu Maria –Tailoring

Furaha Judith –Hairdressing

Mwamini Jeanine –Hairdressing

Nyiramugisha Kamucho-Hair dressing

Aliance Tuombe –Tailoring

Oltance Salama- Hairdressing

Anita Kakure –Hairdressing

Some of the girls at the graduation

HUMAN RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT- THE BATWA KING NZITO

In an effort to ensure the Batwa understand that they posses rights that have to be protected and promoted by the state, RIC-NET conducted a consultative meeting with the King Nzito of the Batwa and the entire leadership of the minority group as part of a follow-up on the community meeting held on 24^th March 2017. The meeting was held at the Batwa Palace on 20^th April 2017. The meeting was attended by the RWECO coordinator Jimmy Odyek and the chairperson of Yesu Atubaliye women group a CBO that is promoting the rights of women in the area. 

The Batwa were sensitized on their constitutional rights such as; the right to peace, stability and security, the right to equality, freedom of peaceful assembly and demonstration, the right of citizens to a demand accountability, transparency of the leaders, the right to food and food security, rights to ownership of property, rights to belong to culture and cultural institution, rights of orphans, widows and widowers, rights of women and children. All these were towards the economic empowerment of the Minority community.

King Nzito was delighted on the realization that the Batwa people have rights just like any other citizen and ethnic group to demand and benefit from government programs like others. He noted that, the leaders had branded the Batwa as people who only need survival intervention. The Batwa identified economic empowerment through building capacities(skills and knowledge) as away to help them realize other rights and freedoms as highlighted.

“In order for our identity to be respected we need to  empower ourselves and demand for it from others” said Dangora Grace Leader of women.

They agreed to start marketing their handcraft products, Lutwa language, continue supporting their children with education to prepare them for the future. They re-affirmed their commitment to the Bye-laws against Alcohol drinking before evening time to ensure their youth participate in productive activities.

FIRST TIME HAVING THE BALL.

   RIC-NET has observed a high level of school dropout among the Batwa.  In supporting the children's right to education especially retention in school, RIC-NET supported the children of the Batwa minority community with leisure materials (balls and other playing Items) to catch the interest of the children and keep them coming to school.

 Dongiyas dream became a reality on april13 2017 when he touch a real ball. he is a son to one of the Btwa chief. Dongiya i a 12 year old in P.2 class and other children from this community have been facing the challenge of Retention in school, as part out promotion the rights to education, we gave out items that can help the children spend their time after class. “…will be playing football to promote my skills..”said the boy.  These items also are intended to promote the right of association among the school children. By playing football, the children are interacting with other and can copy some good behaviors from the trainers.

On the other hand, games kill boredom, develop skills and talents, and increase social interaction. Children are also able to express themselves. In supporting the children with playing items, we promoting the right to equality, right to non discrimination, right to free and compulsory primary education. 

Sr. Angelica the animator of the children’s rights at our lady of Annunciation Bugombwa parish who had been nicknamed Nalongo because of her care for children, expressed happiness for the items provided. She said her children are always bored especially after classes that end at 2:00pm and this make them to think about home and those other dirt acts they had been doing at home.

Provide for your families- the Karambi neighborhood assembly Resolution

A girl Narrating violence in families children face

“But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8,  
These were the opening words by Rev. Barnabas Kathembo  parish vicar Karambi COU to the parents gathered in Karambi for  a meeting on prevention of violence against children. The neighborhood assembly held on 22^nd march 2017 was attended by over 100 parents, the Sub County Chief Karambi, the OC police, the sub county councilor Karambi and the SMC and PTA members of primary schools in Karambi. The key objective was to sensitize citizens/ parents on community prevention mechanism on violence against children in the sub county.

john Silco addressing parents and citizens at Karambi

The Neighborhood Assembly is a platform that gives the local community opportunity to interact with the Sub County Children Protection Committee, child rights activists, political leaders, police and civil servants.They discuss prevention mechanism on violence against children in schools and families. The specific focus was on ways of supporting adolescent girl children with menstruation hygiene and materials to use during this time to ensure proper hygiene . also discussed: proper nutrition to avoid stunted growth, ways end to violence against children in families.

The sub county chief of Karambi Ms. Ruth Masika, Rev. Barnabas and John Silco from RIC-NET highlighted the common case of violence against children as poor parenting practices, child labour, poor meals,lack of basic needs, corporal punishment and use of abusive language to children at school and home.

The children performed drama and songs that depicted how parents mistreat them, substituting school time to go to the markets or cotton farms or carry heavy luggage or even baby sit their siblings as their mothers engage in business.

Karambi P Sch Children Dramatize Violence Against Children

The parents acknowledged their mistreatment and resolved to support schools efforts to provide sanitary material to girl children, to put mechanism for lunch meals or porridge in schools and put bye laws to control children absenteeism from schools. Over 60 parents were enrolled as farmers to pilot good nutrition practices and grow specific nutritious crops.

NOT ENDING NOW

United Integrated Children Development Action (UNICIDA) organised a sensitization meeting on 28th March 2017 that attracted youths and village leaders of Kasitu sub county. These leaders were carefully selected from those villages that were most hit by the Post Election Violence in the district. it should be noted that Kasitu is inhabited by both the Bamba and Bakonzo who are waring tribes. the theme of the meeting was "How ethnicity has contributed to the occurance of conflicts in the area."


A poem titled “Not Ending Now” was recited by Kanyama Nikodemus a member of MUSA Youth Group during the Grassroots’ Sensitization Meeting held at Kasitu sub county headquarters. The poem gives an approach to violence that; we must not kill or hate  each other for the sake of the visitor. In this case the visitor was described as person who incites violence but is not affected at all or stays away from the scene leaving the people to suffer, and at the end takes up all the property the people have left during the struggle.

 

Participants  in the meeting cited major causes of conflict as; intimidation from people who claim to be more connected than others, erection of sign posts around markets and health centers belonging to OBB, Some members in the communities still think of revenge against their neighbors who might have done wrong against them especially those whose houses were burnt, plantations destroyed and lost loved one in the hands of certain people.

It was resolved that members should intensify internal mobilization of the people from the community. This could be done by adoption of the 10 House Mobilization Strategy used in Tanzania. under this strategy a village is clustered into 10’s houses to ensure flow/dissemination of information. This still can help in monitoring of characters that may be involved in bad act instead of leaving the security to the LCI leaders. Clustering would make it possible to identify the enemies of peace and co-existence and remedies put in place as soon as possible.

OUR CULTURE OUR IDENTITY.

The Batwa minority community grass root meeting was conducted on Friday 24 /3/2017 at the Batwa Catholic Church in Bundimasoli-Ntandi town council. There are 18 household of the Batwa, estimated to be composed of 70 people living in Bundimasoli town of Ntandi town council bundibugyo district, 55 members 36 male and 18 females, attended the meeting. 3 members from the CBOs attended 2 male and 1 female and local area councilor one female. The facilitators for the training on Human rights promotion were C/asp Okello Vincent, Mr. Mugisa Robert the ED of UNCIDA and Sr.Angelica and the Animator/promoter of children’s rights at Bugombwa parish.



meeting at the Batwa church.

The community meeting was aimed at sensitizing people on their rights and how they can achieve them in more peaceful ways.

Some of the rights and freedom put on the forefront were; right to education, right to freely associate with others, to have effective access in the government of his or her country and in the conduct of public affairs, right to have access to public resources, right to participate in the leadership of the community.

During the sensitization meeting, the Batwa agreed that their culture is their identity but to promote and share that identity with other, there is need to; support their children attain education as one of the ways to fight ignorance and prepare them for the future, Fight drug abuse and over drinking by willingly surrendering those found drinking to the police or support police to arrest those found in drug abuse. 

Engage in small scale business and doing handcraft to support their families with alternative source of income apart from depending on donations and participate in the governance of the area especially in the forth coming election such that their voices can also be heard.